This year’s Earth Day 2022 focusses on the theme “Invest In Our Planet“.
Earthday.org state,
“All TOGETHER now! This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet.
Because a green future is a prosperous future.”
Earth Day’s website hosts a range of education and action resources linked to climate and the environment and of course you could host an assembly, get out and explore the great outdoors and/or read books across the school with a focus on climate action, conservation and restoration and plastic and pollution. (Some book suggestions are listed here and here, but these lists are by no means exhaustive).
There are many resources that LGfL schools can use:
Busy Things
Busy Things have collated activities together under their “special events” tab; these include templates to write about climate change, order mountain elevations around the world from smallest to tallest, rainforest deforestation and so much more.
Just2Easy Toolsuite
The ever-popular j2e Tool Suite can also be used on Earth Day, for a range of activities.
Why not get pupils to write or draw about climate activist Greta Thunberg who continues to challenge world leaders calling for action on climate change? Or you could get the pupils to make an animation of Earth or nature in JIT’s j2animate (see example below) and/or produce digital posters to encourage people to invest in our planet.
Polar Exploration
You could also use LGfL’s Polar Exploration where you will meet a real life Polar Explorer and look at the history of Polar Exploration. There are ready-made templates and links to some of LGfL’s premium resources (BusyThings and Just2Easy) as well as some homegrown LGfL exclusives such as ‘Polar Exploration in the Heroic Age of Scientific Discovery‘ (exploring Shackleton’s adventures).
Switched on Science
The entire primary ‘Switched on Science’ scheme, offers full coverage across both Key Stage 1 and 2 and is available with LGfL. It is a flexible and creative investigation-based programme with a clear focus on working scientifically. It is packed with best-practice CPD videos and supportive lessons to ensure every teacher can deliver the science curriculum with confidence. The package comes with all the additional resources teachers need to teach the entire science curriculum, ranging from a video for each unit, teacher guide, pupil workbooks, ideas for differentiation, and much more.
Widgit
Widgit Symbols are simply drawn, colourful symbols designed to illustrate a single concept in a clear and concise way. They cover a range of topics (including science and geography) wide enough to make them suitable for symbol users of all ages and abilities. Already used by many SEND departments and schools, the entire symbol database of over 15,000 images is available to you to search and download. The use of these symbols increases the accessibility of written text by giving readers of all literacy levels greater access to information. As they are designed specifically for written information, Widgit Symbol users can develop a real independence in reading and writing. Look in WidgitActivities for visual, varied and differentiated worksheets which include Widgit symbols to help you making the curriculum accessible for all learners. The example below is from “Gases Around Us” in the science section of Widgit Activities:
Amplify
If you are yet to look at our Amplify site launched in January 2022, this could be the perefect time. One of the themes is “Environment” – perfect for Earth Day. We want students to examine and explore what can be done to protect the environment now and for future generations and how past actions may have caused harm. Below is a screenshot of the Adobe links included in the page.
Andy Warhol once said, “I never read, I just look at pictures.” A poster competition can be an exciting way to spark creativity with students, engage them with a specific topic and get started with your free Adobe licenses (available to all LGfL schools). Adobe Creative Cloud Express has free templates and can serve as your creative guide. So get the pupils creating captivating graphics perhaps with slogans to encourage people to invest more in our planet! Have a look at these amazing examples for ideas. You can also read an Adobe blog produced for last year’s Earth Day here.
The Everyone Can Create curriculum is a collection of project guides (broken down into music, drawing, photo and video) that bring creative expression to every subject. They are designed to help students develop and communicate ideas and use free apps available on any iPad; taking advantage of the built-in camera, microphone, speakers, Multi-Touch display and Apple Pencil. Again these are outlined in Amplify with links to “Create for Earth Day”,”Create for Wildlife”, “Create for Oceans” and “Create for Antarctica”.
Google and Greenpeace
Join Google and Greenpeace for a fun, interactive, LIVE lesson! This Earth Day, you and your students will be inspired to contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 🌍 They have some great resources to share too! Sign up for the Earth Day Live Lesson here
Other Resources:
Oxfam have designed a guide for teachers – The Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of ambitious and urgent goals and targets aimed at changing our world for the better. Packed with practical advice, useful information, cross-curricular activity ideas and inspiring case studies; this guide aims to deepen teachers’ understanding of education about and for the SDGs.
Terrific Scientific from the the BBC is a set of curriculum-linked primary science resources for Key Stage 2 aimed at encouraging scientific enquiry. The resources focus on a series of practical classroom investigations linked to the curriculum, so teachers can use each one as a stand-alone science project, or as part of a bigger topic. For each investigation, there is an introductory film, fronted by well-known figures relevant to the age-group; a ‘how to…’ film which demonstrates the investigation, a downloadable teacher resource (including curriculum links) and student worksheets. Perfect for using Earth Day and beyond.
Explorify is another great site for free science resources. The Explorify activities are bitesize prompts for discussion and investigation, their high-quality image, video and hands-on activities are sure to spark curiosity and get your class thinking like scientists. Choose from a wide range of curriculum-linked, low-prep activities that will set young minds whizzing and whirring.
Whatever you decide to do on Earth Day, we hope you have a fabulous time with your pupils at school! Remember we would love to see any photographs, posters or other work completed by your pupils. Please share with us via our Twitter or Facebook pages using the hashtag #EarthDay #InvestInOurplanet